Don’t get all sweaty now. You’re probably thinking, what is council tax? What is council tax used for? Can I get a discount or a slash on my council tax?

Where can I find my council tax account number?

You see, your council tax account number can be found on your council tax paper bill at the top right corner.

You need to make sure you know enough details about council tax to avoid being ignorant. That ignorance is likely to make you pay big time. To know more about council tax, I implore you to read on.

What is Council Tax?

Council tax can be defined as a yearly fee you have to pay to the local council. Council tax is levied on domestic buildings or properties. You see, not all properties are required to pay council tax, and certainly, not everyone is required to pay it either. Some people are lucky to get a discount.

What is Council Tax used for?

The council tax is directed towards local services. You would be happy to know that a portion of your council tax is divided and distributed for great causes.

Below are the services that benefit from your council tax

Fire servicePolice forceLibrary and academic servicesWaste disposal servicesHealthy and clean environmentTransport ServicesRoad maintenanceStreet lights

Among a few others, these are great causes your council tax goes to. Not all superheros wear capes, you know; some pay their council tax too. 

Can I get a Discount or a slash on my Council Tax?

There is nothing wrong with looking for a discount or slash on taxes, especially the council tax. Firstly, students are lucky as they escaped council tax payment; that must feel nice for them. Certain requirements must be met before you are liable for a reduction or no payments at all. Those requirements include;

Have low or zero incomeYou happen to be the only adult in your house, or you live by yourself. You are mentally impaired, or someone living with you is. You happen to be in prison – except if you got in there for not paying your council tax, in which case, you are still going to pay. You live in Wales or England, and you happen to be a care leaverYou happen to be a student

What are the factors that affect my Council Tax?

You may have agreed to pay your council tax, but it bugs you that you don’t know how they measure your council tax. Your council tax depends on certain factors like your location and the price of your home. If your house/property is expensive, you will likely pay a higher council tax.

You can also visit the local council nearest to you to find out more information. 

What happens if I miss a Council Tax payment?

Falling behind on your council tax payment even by a month is one risky move. It’s so risky; you can be told to pay the full yearly payment upfront.

Let’s break it down a little bit. If your council tax was £150 a month, however, somehow you missed paying the first payment of that current year, you now have to pay £1500 if you intend to pay it in ten months.

How do you avoid this? Quickly reach out to your council if you feel you missed a payment; you don’t want to get unlucky.

What happens if I don’t pay my Council Tax?

Someone must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed. It can turn into a huge problem when you decide to completely ignore the emails sent to you and not pay your council tax.

What happens when you bail on the first payment? The council sends you a reminder two weeks after you bailed the first payment.

You still have the opportunity to pay before seven days are over; you don’t need to worry once you do that.

Perhaps you feel like going up against the law and not paying before seven days are over, or maybe you faulted on your council tax for the third time – you get a final notice.

Brace yourself; here comes the first bad news. The final notice tells you to pay your council tax in full for the entire year in seven days.

Let’s assume you don’t – the council applies to a court seeking permission to get the tax debt. You can call this a liability order if you want.

The council will reach out to your employer and get them to pay your tax debt from your salary. They can also send you to prison.

Conclusion

Council tax helps the local council to pay for public services. It is directed towards keeping a healthy and safe environment. 

You pay your council tax based on the council tax band which your property falls under.